The IDF sends troops into areas northwest of Bayt Lahiya to bulldoze 5 d. of citrus trees, temporarily detaining farmers working in the area, withdrawing by evening. Palestinians fire 2 mortars fr. al-Maghazi r.c. toward Israel; both land inside Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Ramallah, nr. Nablus (arresting a PA General Intelligence officer); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in, injuring 4. Jewish settlers fr. Elon Moreh nr. Nablus deny local Palestinian farmers access to their land nearby the settlement; the Palestinian District Coordination Office (DCO) contacts its IDF counterpart, which refuses to intervene. (OCHA 10/17; PCHR 10/18)
Saturday, October 13, 2007